Process for improved contacting of hydrocarbon feedstock and particulate solids

Abstract

A process wherein a fluidized particulate solid is contacted with a hydrocarbon feedstock in a vertically extending contacting zone, which process comprises introducing a stream of the particulate solid into the contacting zone and introducing a plurality of streams of liquid hydrocarbon feedstock into the contacting zone to intimately contact the particulate solid therein, the plurality of streams each being introduced into the contacting zone from one of a plurality of nozzles spaced apart in the contacting zone, and each stream having a flow path extending into the contacting zone and a flow pattern having a thickness which is substantially constant and a width which diverges from the point of introduction into the contacting zone. The nozzles each comprise a tubular member having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a flow channel extending through the member from the inlet to the outlet end, the outlet end having an oval concave surface therein and a circular opening centered in the concave surface and in flow communication with the flow channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a process wherein a fluidized particulate solid is contacted with a hydrocarbon feedstock in a vertically extending contacting zone, the improvement which comprises introducing a stream of the particulate solid into the contacting zone, and introducing a plurality of streams of liquid hydrocarbon feedstock into the contacting zone to intimately contact the particulate solid therein, said plurality of streams each being introduced into the contacting zone from one of a plurality of nozzles spaced apart in the contacting zone, and having a flow path extending into the contacting zone and a flow pattern formed of spaced ligaments of the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock and having a thickness which is substantially constant and a width which diverges from the point of introduction into the contacting zone. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1, wherein the particulate solid is a cracking catalyst and said contacting zone is a reaction zone wherein the conditions are effective to convert the feedstock to lower molecular weight products. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2, wherein a stream of cracking catalyst particles is passed upwardly through the reaction zone and the flow paths of the streams of hydrocarbon feedstock intersect the stream of cracking catalyst at an angle of from 0° to 90°, and the resulting mixture of catalyst and feedstock is passed upwardly in the reaction zone. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 2, wherein a stream of cracking catalyst particles is introduced downwardly into the reaction zone and the streams of feedstock are introduced upwardly into the reaction zone from a location below the point of introduction of the catalyst into the reaction zone, and the resulting mixture of catalyst and feedstock is passed upwardly in the reaction zone. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 2, wherein a stream of cracking catalyst particles is introduced downwardly into the reaction zone, the streams of feedstock are introduced horizontally into the reaction zone, and the resulting mixture of catalyst and feedstock is passed into the reaction zone. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1, wherein the flow paths of the streams of feedstock are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 1, wherein the flow patterns of the plurality of streams of feedstock do not intersect one another. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 1, wherein the flow patterns of the plurality of streams of feedstock are in a plane substantially perpendicular to the flow of the stream of particulate solid. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the flow of the stream of particulate solid. 
     
     
       10. The process of claim 1, wherein at least one other feedstock or process diluent is introduced into the reaction zone by a second plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
       11. The process of claim 1, wherein multiple sets of nozzles are employed, each for introducing into the contacting zone the feedstock, a second feedstock, or a process diluent. 
     
     
       12. The process of claim 1, wherein the particulate solid has no substantial cracking activity under the conditions in the contacting zone. 
     
     
       13. In a process wherein a descending vertical stream of hot regenerated particulate solid is contacted in a contacting zone with a hydrocarbon feedstock injected substantially horizontally into the contacting zone, the improvement comprising injecting a plurality of streams of the feedstock into the contacting zone from a plurality of spaced apart nozzles, each of the streams of feedstock having a flow pattern formed of spaced ligaments of the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock and which is substantially flat in the vertical direction and which diverges horizontally from its corresponding nozzle. 
     
     
       14. The process of claim 13, wherein the feedstock flow patterns are parallel to each other. 
     
     
       15. The process of claim 13, wherein the feedstock flow patterns do not intersect. 
     
     
       16. The process of claim 13, wherein the plurality of nozzles are in a plane substantially perpendicular to the stream of hot regenerated catalyst. 
     
     
       17. The process of claim 13, wherein multiple sets of nozzles are employed, each for injecting the feedstock, a second feedstock or a process diluent. 
     
     
       18. The process of claim 13, wherein the particulate solid is a cracking catalyst. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim 13, wherein the particulate solid has no substantial cracking activity under the conditions in the cracking zone. 
     
     
       20. The process of claim 1, wherein each of said streams of liquid hydrocarbon feedstock is introduced into the contacting zone from a flow channel in one of said nozzles having an outlet end provided with an oval concave surface thereon, and a circular opening centered in the concave surface and in flow communication with the flow channel so as to form said flow pattern. 
     
     
       21. The process of claim 13, wherein each of said streams of liquid hydrocarbon feedstock is introduced into the contacting zone from a flow channel in one of said nozzles having an outlet end provided with an oval concave surface thereon and a circular opening centered in the concave surface and in flow communication with the flow channel so as to form said flow pattern.